Courtesy photo.
HONOLULU — The Coast Guard is seeking the public’s help identifying the owner of an unmanned 13-foot, blue kayak with a yellow paddle found approximately 200 yards off of Waimea Beach, Kauai, Sunday.
The kayak is blue with no identifiable markings and has a yellow paddle.
Anyone with information that may help identify the owner of the kayak is asked to contact Coast Guard Sector Honolulu at 808-842-2600.
At 8:35 a.m., watchstanders from the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center received notification from the crew of the commercial vessel Lucky Lady that they had come across an unmanned and adrift kayak.
Sector Honolulu issued an urgent marine information broadcast notice to mariners and launched an HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point to conduct a search of the area.
There are currently no reported signs of distress or missing persons in the area. Members from the Kauai Police Department conducted a shoreline search of the area with no results.
The Coast Guard offers free "If Found" decals to be placed in a visible location on small, human-powered watercraft through the Operation Paddle Smart program. The information on the sticker can allow response entities to quickly identify the vessel's owner and aid search and rescue planners in determining the best course of action.
The stickers can be obtained for free at local harbormasters, through the Coast Guard Auxiliary, from Honolulu Sail and Power Squadron offices and at select marine retail and supply stores.